LOSING CONTROL of a Perfectly Good Airplane Janeen Kochan

Loss of Control  Why the topic?  The perfectly good airplane part  Who loses control?  Why do pilots lose control?  What is being done  What can be done?  Why not you?

Why the Topic?

Who Loses Control? (Commercial Jet Airplanes Worldwide )

Who Loses Control? (General Aviation Accidents, NTSB) RankOccurrence # Accidents 1Loss of Control In-Flight175 2In-Flight Collision with Terrain 88 3In-Flight Collision with Object 85 4Hard Landing 52 5Loss of Control on Ground/Water 47 (Collision with Object) 6Loss of Control on Ground/Water 46 (Encounter with Terrain/Water) 9Loss of Control on Ground/Water 39 10Loss of Control on Ground/Water 29 (nose over)

Human Factors Issues (General Aviation 2000 – NTSB) AllFatal Human Factors Issues Aircraft Handling/Control Planning/Decision Use of Aircraft Equipment Maintenance Communications Meteorological Service 12 7 Airport 3 1

Who Loses Control? Passenger Interference Carry-on Baggage Child Restraint Passenger Seat Belt Use FAA Safer Skies Initiative General Aviation Cabin Safety Aeronautical Decision Making Weather Controlled Flight Into Terrain Survivability Runway Incursions Loss of Control Controlled Flight Into Terrain Uncontained Engine Failures Runway Incursions Approach and Landing Weather Loss of Control Turbulence Commercial Aviation

Who Loses Control?

What Can Happen?

Why Pilots Lose Control Unexpected Events and Surprise  Surprise due to unexpected event  Nature of surprise  Insidious  Subtle  Cues most often available  Not necessarily highly unusual or novel  The process of surprise

Why Pilots Lose Control Unexpected Events and Surprise  Expectations inconsistent with ongoing situation  Lack of cues and/or improper interpretation of cues  Erroneous probability estimations  Decision making becomes impaired and/or delayed  Focus on event leads to an interruption of ongoing activities  Interruption of ongoing activities can lead to…

Why Pilots Lose Control Aircraft Upsets Unintentional:  Aircraft pitch greater than 25 o nose up  Aircraft pitch greater than 10 o nose down  Aircraft bank angle greater than 45 o  Airspeeds inappropriate for the conditions of flight To include: Any other aircraft state that is not intended by the pilot

What is Being Done Formal Requirements - Practical Test Standards  Recovery from unusual flight attitudes  Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to attitude instrument flying during unusual attitudes  Recognizes unusual flight attitudes solely by reference to instruments; recovers promptly to a stabilized level flight attitude  Using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation and smooth, coordinated control application in the correct sequence

What is Being Done Formal Recommendations  FITS (FAA/Industry Training Standard) – for technically advanced piston or light jet aircraft  NBAA Training Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light Jets and Technically Advanced Aircraft  Industry Airplane Upset Training Aid, Rev. 1 – training curriculum for air carrier operations

What Can Be Done?  Awareness  Training  Academics  In-Flight  Simulator  Practice to maintain basic flying skills  Advanced airmanship attitude  ‘Aeronautical sportsmanship’ David Robson – “Skydancing; Aerobatic Flight Techniques”

CharacteristicsSpiralsStallsSpins Angle of Attack AirspeedAltimeterG-Load Below Critical IncreasingUnwindingIncreasing Above Critical Low & Constant Unwinding Essentially +1.0g Above Critical Low & Constant Unwinding Essentially +1.0g Primary cause Primary remedy Recovery Actions Excessive Bank AileronsPower-Push-Roll Excessive AOA Elevator Elevator Forward Yaw & Roll Coupled Rudder Pare Pare Maneuver Academics Rich Stowell Emergency Maneuver Training

Unusual Attitude Recovery Training Foundation Flyers, Inc. Lowell Hinchee In-Flight Training

What Can Be Done? Calspan’s Upset Recovery Training Program  Classroom instruction  Causes of upsets  Aerodynamics  Recovery techniques  Flight training  Aerobatic Bonanza  In-Flight Simulation Learjet

Aerobatic Bonanza  G-force awareness  Stalls  Confidence maneuvers  Basic aerobatics  Unusual attitude recovery  Nose high  Nose low

Aerobatic Bonanza Nose Low > 90 Announce Unload Roll Level Wings Pitch Evaluate

Aerobatic Bonanza Why Not Pull Through?

Aerobatic Bonanza Nose Low Recovery

In-Flight Simulation Learjet  Transport characteristics  Unusual Attitude Recovery  Aircraft dynamics  Stability changes  PIO tendency  Dutch Roll  Upset events  Flight control failures  Wake turbulence

In-Flight Simulation Learjet

In-Flight Simulation Learjet Rudder Hardover

Loss of Control  Why the topic?  The perfectly good airplane part  Who loses control?  Why do pilots lose control?  What is being done  What can be done?  Why not you?

Thank You Comments or Questions? Losing Control of a Perfectly Good Aircraft